Parasite Biology and Host Interactions

First occurrence of parasitic isopod (Braga nasuta, Schioedte & Meinert, 1881) on ornamental fish in Europe

The paper reports the first occurrence of the parasitic isopod Braga nasuta in Europe, found on an imported cardinal tetra in a Hungarian public aquarium.

The consequences of host heterogeneity for parasite transmission depend on how host infectiousness is determined.

The paper contrasts two scenarios for determining host infectiousness and shows how they affect parasite transmission under host heterogeneity.

An Epidemic Diversity conceptual model explains how host genetic diversity affects variation in parasite success

The paper challenges the conventional view by showing high host genetic diversity reduces mean parasite success only for specialist parasites, not generalists, and affects variability based on host range and parasite diversity.

A parasite-inclusive food web for the California rocky intertidal zone

The paper constructs a detailed parasite-inclusive food web for the California rocky intertidal zone with 1845 taxa and 13,222 trophic links, providing a tool for ecological analysis and prediction.

Pace of life predicts parasite resistance and fecundity tolerance, but not mortality tolerance, among Trinidadian guppies, Poecilia reticulata

The study examines how Trinidadian guppies' pace of life influences their resistance and fecundity tolerance to parasites but not mortality tolerance.

Impact of Group Size and Habitat Disturbance on Parasitic Infection in Free-ranging Proboscis Monkeys

This study examines how group size and habitat disturbance affect parasitic infections in proboscis monkeys, finding group size correlates with specific parasite abundances and habitat disturbance influences infection patterns.

Counterproductive: coinfection of a water flea by a fungus and a microsporidium reduces the reproductive outputs of all parties.

This study shows that coinfection of water fleas by a fungus and a microsporidium reduces the reproductive outputs of all parties, with virulence expressed through host mortality and reduced fecundity.

The Phylogeny and the Evolution of Parasitic Strategies in Trematoda

This study reconstructs the evolutionary history of trematode parasitic strategies using mitogenomic and nuclear genomic data, finding that ancestral trematodes had direct life cycles with no intermediate hosts.

Changes in gene regulation are associated with the evolution of resistance to a novel parasite

The paper examines gene regulation changes in threespine stickleback populations with varying resistance to a freshwater cestode, showing population-specific transcriptomic responses and the role of fibrosis in parasite defense.

Host genetics and the Skin Microbiome Independently Predict Parasite Resistance

This study shows that host genetics and the skin microbiome independently predict parasite resistance in Trinidadian guppies, with the microbiome explaining as much variation in infection severity as genetic selection lines.

Prevalence of the parasitic copepod, Sarcotaces sp., infection in British Columbia rockfishes (Sebastes sp.) and implications for rockfish life-history

This study reports the prevalence of Sarcotaces sp. infection in rockfishes and its impact on length-at-maturity, with higher infection rates in certain species and sex-specific effects.

First record of Argulus japonicus infestation onCyprinus carpio in Hungary, and the first descriptionof Argulus japonicus subsp. europaeus subsp. nov.Keve, 2025

The paper reports the first occurrence of Argulus japonicus in Hungary and describes a new subspecies based on molecular and morphological analyses.

Spatial patterns of trematode-induced pits on bivalve skeletons: Challenges and prospects for research on parasite-host dynamics

This study uses spatial point pattern analysis to examine trematode-induced pits on bivalve shells, revealing non-random spatial patterns that provide insights into parasite-host interactions.

Effects of host sex, age and behaviour on co-infection patterns in a wild ungulate

This study examines co-infection patterns in European roe deer, finding that proximity to livestock, sex, age, and activity levels influence parasite presence, with minimal between-parasite interactions.

Modeling the zebrafish gut microbiome's resistance and sensitivity to climate change and parasite infection

This study examines how zebrafish gut microbiome responds to temperature and parasite infection, finding that higher temperatures reduce parasitic infection and alter microbiome dynamics.

Host avoidance and resistance vary independently and are specific to parasite genotype

This study separates avoidance and resistance in C. elegans against S. marcescens and finds no correlation between them, suggesting independent covariation and genetic specificity.

Needle in a haystack: A droplet digital polymerase chain reaction assay to detect rare helminth parasites infecting natural host populations

The paper develops a droplet digital PCR assay to detect and quantify rare helminth parasites in environmental samples, demonstrating its sensitivity and applicability across multiple helminth systems.

Efficiency of Anthelmintic Treatment and Its Effect on Microparasite Dynamics in Wild Mastomys natalensis

This study evaluates the impact of anthelmintic treatments on helminth and microparasite dynamics in wild Mastomys natalensis, finding that pyrantel pamoate reduces gastrointestinal nematodes and correlates with decreased Morogoro virus seropositivity.

Local and global density have distinct and parasite-dependent effects on infection in wild sheep

The paper examines how local and global density affect parasite infection in wild sheep, finding distinct effects depending on age and parasite type.

Population density drives increased parasitism via greater exposure and reduced resource availability in wild hosts

This study shows that higher host population density increases parasite counts through both greater exposure and reduced resource availability in red deer.

Among-Population Differentiation in the Tapeworm Proteome through Prediction of Excretory/Secretory and Transmembrane Proteins in Schistocephalus solidus

This study identifies population-level differences in the proteome of Schistocephalus solidus, including excretory/secretory proteins, suggesting potential adaptations to host genetic variation.

Dynamics of infection and immunity over 50 years as marine stickleback adapt to freshwater

This study tracks the eco-evolutionary dynamics of tapeworm infection and fibrosis immune response in marine stickleback over 50 years in a freshwater pond, showing increased immunity reduced infection rates.

Threes a crowd: The relationship among endoparasites, an epibiont and their Daphnia host

This study examines the interactions between endoparasites, an epibiont, and their Daphnia host, finding that epibiont attachment and parasite infection intensity vary with host infection status and that endoparasites negatively impact host survival and reproduction.

Host specificity of gastrointestinal parasites in free-ranging sloths from Costa Rica

This study examines gastrointestinal parasites in two sloth species from Costa Rica, finding no significant difference in parasite richness between species or habitats but highlighting habitat-specific diversity and host-specific parasite composition.

Geography is a stronger predictor of diversification of monogenean parasites (Platyhelminthes) than host relatedness in characid fishes of Middle America

This study finds that geography, not host relatedness, drives diversification of monogenean parasites in characid fishes, indicating host-switching is mediated by spatial proximity.

Do fungi look like macroparasites? Quantifying the patterns and mechanisms of aggregation for host-fungal parasite relationships

The paper quantifies aggregation patterns of the fungal pathogen Bd in amphibians, showing higher aggregation than macroparasites and linking it to biological processes.

Resource Quality Differentially Impacts Daphnia Interactions with Two Parasites

This study shows resource quality differentially affects Daphnia interactions with two parasites, influencing infection and proliferation processes but not immune responses.

Mouth-attaching copepod Salmincola markewitschi reduces the body condition and growth of juvenile salmonid Salvelinus leucomaenis by decreasing host feeding activity: evidence from parasite removal experiment

Evaluation of parasitic contamination and effects on estimates of mitochondrial enzymatic activities in infected fish livers

The paper evaluates how parasite contamination affects estimates of mitochondrial enzyme activities in infected fish livers and finds that enzyme activity estimates remain accurate even with contamination.

Infection by the lungworm Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala affects the expression of immune-related microRNAs by its co-evolved host, the cane toad Rhinella marina.

This study examines how lungworm infection affects miRNA and mRNA expression in cane toads, finding upregulated miRNAs linked to immune response pathways and minimal mRNA changes.